In 2008, Lavon wasn't exactly smiling -- or reveling in her career. She was laid off from an art director position at a New York advertising firm. Instead of applying elsewhere, she launched Hooray Hoopla.

''I didn't want to be a desk bunny,'' she said.

With $600, she started handcrafting quirky cards, ''My Punny Valentines'' and cheery paper bouquets. With partner Ashley Connors, the business head of the operation, she expanded Hooray Hoopla's product line to include winter mittens.

The new line, called Vs. Mittens, includes mittens featuring predators and their prey. For example, one mitten is a frog while the other mitten is a fly. Other hand-knitted pairings include a wolf and a sheep, as well as a lion and gazelle. The idea is that ''your hands can eat each other,'' she said.

Quirky and cute, the Vs. Mittens line sold out its 6,500 run by last Christmas at Target and boutiques in over 20 states nationwide and in Australia.